Overcup oak tree named ‘QLFTB’

ABSTRACT

A Overcup Oak tree named ‘QLFTB’ having dense, upright, uniform branching habit, yellow-orange-red fall color, and fast growth rate and also which is capable of being reproduced reliably using vegetative cuttings.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES

Quercus Iyrata ‘QLFTB’.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of QuercusIyrata, Overcup Oak, which has been given the varietal name ‘QLFTB.’ Idiscovered my new tree in 1996 as a chance seedling of unknown parentagegrowing in a cultivated area in Statesboro, Ga.

The seeds were collected from a single tree in Athens, Ga. The seedswere collected in the fall of 1991 and planted into seedbeds in latewinter of 1992. In the spring of 1993, bare-root liners weretransplanted to a nursery field. In January of 1998, my new tree wasmoved to an observation site in Oconee County, Ga., where it hasremained since that time. It is now about eight and one half years oldfrom a seed.

As I observed the initially discovered tree of my new variety, theuniqueness of this tree became apparent because of a dense, upright,uniform branching habit, yellow-orange-red fall color, and fast growthrate as compared to a typical seedling. It was observed that my new treegrew approximately 30% faster than most of the other Overcup Oak Treesin the field that were planted from the same seed source. Thesecharacteristics distinguish my new tree from other typical Overcup Oaksknown to me.

In 1996, this new tree was successfully propagated by vegetativecuttings at my direction, and the progeny have thus far proven to retainthe dense, upright, uniform branching habit, fall color, and fast growthrate of the initially discovered tree even as smaller plants. Asexualreproduction of my new plant has taken place in Bulloch County, Ga.

I observed this tree of my new variety for a period of time and believeit is particularly useful as a street tree and for use on commercialsites where growing conditions are difficult, particularly areas thatmay be wet for a portion having the year. My new oak tree can also beused on golf courses, parks, and other areas where a tree having thesecharacteristics is needed. Its fast growth rate offers growers anaccelerated finished product over a typical seedling, allowing for aquicker crop rotation.

Cultivated Overcup Oak trees, insofar as I am aware, are represented inthe industry solely by seedling material. Although Overcup Oak trees aremore consistent from seed than many other oaks, there is still a degreeof variance in both the landscape and in nurseries. Seedling Overcup Oaktrees can be variable in growth rate, habit, and fall color. My new treehas a dense, upright, uniform branching habit, better fall color, and afaster growth rate in comparison to other varieties of Overcup Oak treesof which I am aware.

Overcup Oak trees in youth are typically pyramidal-oval and oval-roundedto rounded in habit at maturity. On average these tree reach 40′ to 60′high and wide. However, the national champion is 156′ tall by 120′ wide.Overcup Oak trees are native to bottomlands where it is found in sloughsand backwater areas from New Jersey to Florida, west to Missouri andTexas. Overcup Oak trees perform best in acid soils, and do well in theheat, drought, and humidity of the Southeast. These trees also do wellin the lower temperatures and high precipitation of the East andMid-Atlantic as well as the more arid Midwest. Overcup Oak trees areknown to be hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. Overcup Oak trees are relativelyeasy to transplant because of a superior root system compared to otheroaks.

My new variety has been asexually propagated by vegetative cuttings atmy direction. This propagation and observation of the resulting progenyhave proven the unique combination of characteristics of my new varietyto be firmly fixed and reproduce true to type. Furthermore, theseobservations have confirmed that my new variety represents a new andimproved variety of Overcup Oak tree as particularly evidenced by thedense, upright uniform branching habit, fall color, and fast growth rateand which can reliably be asexually propagated using vegetativepropagation techniques.

The accompanying photographs depict the color of the tree and foliage ofmy new variety as nearly as is reasonably possible to make the same in acolor illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the initially discovered tree of my newvariety in summer leaf.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the initially discovered tree of my newvariety during winter.

FIG. 3 is a close up of the upper side of two single leaves from a treeof my new variety.

FIG. 4 is a close up of the under side of two single leaves from a treeof my new variety.

FIG. 5 is a close up of typical fall leaf color of my new variety.

FIG. 6 is a close up of the trunk of the initially discovered tree.

FIG. 7 is a close up of the typical branching habit of my new variety.

My new ‘QLFTB’ variety of Overcup Oak tree is currently growing at anobservation site in Oconee County, Ga. It is located in an area ofOconee County that has a clay loam soil type. Oconee County is in USDAHardiness Zone 7 and receives an average rainfall of 50 inches eachyear, although actual rainfall in any given year can typically rangebetween 30 and 60 inches. The hardiness of my new variety has yet to bedetermined.

The following is a detailed description of my new variety of Overcup Oaktree with color terminology in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety (R.H.S.) Colour Chart published by The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London. The observations are of the initially discovered treegrowing at the observation site in Oconee County, Ga. My new tree hasnot been observed under all growing conditions and thus variations mayoccur as a result of different growing conditions.

My new variety of Overcup Oak tree is characterized by a dense, upright,uniform branching habit, yellow-orange-red fall color, and a fast growthrate (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 7). The initially discovered tree is currently9.75 inches in caliper at 12 inches above the ground after eight and onehalf years. The initially discovered tree is currently 24 feet high and16 feet wide with a height to width ration of 1.5.

The bark of my new tree is typical of the species, being smooth toslightly rough and gray-brown on young trees, and becoming gray togray-green and scaly at maturity (FIG. 6), reminiscent of Quercus alba.However, it is not quite as scaly as a typical Quercus alba. The colorof the mature bark is also typical of the species, with the color beingshown in FIG. 6, light gray-green (RHS 188C) with patches of lightgreen-white (RHS 157C).

The branching habit of my new tree is upright pyramidal-oval. Branchesat the base of the tree typically emerge at about 80 degree angles tothe trunk. Branches at the top of the tree typically emerge at about a50 degree angle to the leader and tend to flatten with age (FIGS. 1, 2,and 7).

Leaves of my new tree are alternate, simple, typically obovate-oblong inshape, typically about 6 to 8″ long, and typically about 1½ to 3″ wide,acute or obtuse, cuneate at the base, and deeply lyrate-pinnatified. Theupper leaf surface in summer (FIG. 3) is a dark green (RHS 131A), andthe lower leaf surface (FIG. 4) is a lighter green (RHS 137C). Fallcolor (FIG. 5) is typically yellow-orange-red (e.g. RHS 34A).

The buds are typical of the species, being imbricate, ⅛ to ¼″ long, andbrown with gray-brown, stipular appendages nestled in a cluster ofterminal buds.

My new variety has not yet been observed to produce flowers, pollen oracorns.

The root system of my new tree is a very fibrous root system typical ofthe species.

THE PLANT

Parentage: Discovered as a chance seedling of unkown parentage growingin a cultivated area in Statesboro, Ga.

Tree shape: My new tree is dense and upright with the lower branchesbeing upswept. The branching as a whole displays an upright pyramidaloval in youth.

Trunk: Single leader.

Bark: The bark of my new tree is typical of the species, being smooth toslightly rough and gray-brown on young trees, and becoming gray togray-green (RHS 188C) and scaly on mature trees, reminiscent of Quercusalba with patches of light green-white (RHS 157C).

Braches: Dense, upright uniform branching habit. Branches at the base ofthe tree typically emerge at about 80 degree angles to the trunk.Branches at the top of the tree typically emerage at about 50 degreeangles to the leader. Thus, the branches tend to flatten with age.

Leaves: Leaves are alternate, simple, typically obovate-oblong in shape,typically about 6 to 8″ long, typically about 1½ to 3″ wide, acute orobtuse, cuneate at the base, and deeply lyrate-pinnatified. Leaves aretypically dark green in summer (upper leaf surface RHS 131A, lower leafsurface lighter green, RHS 137C) and yellow-orange-red in the fall (e.g.RHS 34A).

Buds: The buds are typical of the species, being imbricate, ⅛ to ¼″long, and brown with gray-brown, stipular appendages nestled in acluster of terminal buds.

Pollen and acorns: None observed.

Root system: The root system is typical of the species. Oaks typicallyhave coarse root systems, but Overcup Oak trees have a very fibrous rootsystem as compared to the genus.

Hardiness: Trees being grown in hardiness Zone 7. Winter hardiness notyet determined.

Pest and disease resistance: No unusual pest or disease resistance orsusceptibility observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Overcup Oak tree substantiallyas herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to noveltyby its unique dense, upright, uniform branching habit, yellow-orange-redfall color, and fast growth rate.